Appendices

Appendix D Australian Prime Minsters Centre research activities

Table 13 Research fellows and summer scholars, 2008–09
Researcher Project
Fellows
Bird, Dr David

Archivist and school historian, Camberwell Grammar School
The primary outcome of this research project will be a chapter entitled ‘The political thinking and practice of Joseph Lyons’ to be published in a manuscript dealing with Australian responses to the ideological challenges of the political Right in the 1930s. Dr Bird will look at Lyons as an innovator both domestically and externally, with an interest in the politics of the ‘third way’.
Bridge, Professor Carl

Head of Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, United Kingdom
The primary outcome of this research project will be a biographical study of former prime minister William (Billy) Morris Hughes. The study will be published as a short book in a series of studies on world leaders who negotiated the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
Lee, Dr David

Director, Historical Publications and Information Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Dr Lee will conclude work on a biography of Stanley Melbourne Bruce which was commenced under a 2007–08 APMC Fellowship. The biography will examine his post prime ministerial career in particular, with a focus on Bruce as a consistent internationalist.
Mein-Smith, Professor Philippa

Professor of History and Director of New Zealand – Australia Research Centre, University of Canterbury
Why was John McEwen such a friend of New Zealand? The primary outcome of this research project will be two academic papers on the role of former prime minister John McEwen in developing Australia – New Zealand relationships, particularly the Australia – New Zealand Free Trade Agreement in 1965.
Piggott, Mr Michael

Former Archivist, University of Melbourne (now retired)
Mr Piggott will undertake a bibliographic project to identify and describe collections in the Australian National University official archives and the Noel Butlin Archives which directly document Australian prime ministers up to Menzies.
Richardson, Dr Nick

Group News Editor, Leader Community Newspapers
Dr Richardson will prepare an academic conference paper outlining the background, implementation and impact of the use of radio in the 1931 federal election campaign. This paper will contend that radio helped to establish a new means of interaction between the government and the nation, and that it was an essential element of Joe Lyons’ popular support.
Rutland, Professor Suzanne

Chair, Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies, University of Sydney
Professor Rutland will research the Australian role in the human rights campaign for Soviet Jewry. The primary outcome of this project is a contribution to a book on the Australian role in the human rights campaign for Soviet Jewry. The book will focus in particular on the role played by prime ministers Fraser and Hawke, who strongly supported the campaign.
Wurth, Mr Bob

Author and John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library visiting scholar for 2009
Mr Wurth will develop a web resource examining the personal associations between John Curtin and Robert Menzies and Tatsuo Kawai, Japan’s first minister to Australia. A particular focus will be the continuing relationship between the Curtin and Kawai families following the visit of Kawai to the Curtin family home in July 1941. The web resource will be published on the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library website. A small travelling exhibition and public lecture may also result from this research.
Summer scholar
Barrett Meyering, Isabelle

Bachelor of Arts, Honours in History, University of Sydney
Ms Barrett Meyering was awarded a summer scholarship for her project to prepare a guide to the policy speeches of all prime ministers and opposition leaders at federal elections from 1901 to 2001. Publication of the guide on the Old Parliament House website is planned for late 2009. Because Ms Barrett Meyering was also awarded an Australian War Memorial Summer Scholarship in 2008–09, she commenced her Australian Prime Ministers Centre scholarship in March 2009.
Table 14 Programs delivered by 2007–08 fellows in 2008–09
Fellow Title and description Date and venue
’t Hart, Professor Paul Public lecture: A Strident Strategist: Billy Hughes at War

Promotional description: ‘Discover the man behind the controversial conscription debate during the First World War—former Prime Minister Billy Hughes. Join Professor Paul ’t Hart and colleague Matthew Laing from the Research School of Social Sciences at ANU, as they discuss Hughes’s leadership style during the conscription crises.’
3 September 2008

House of Representatives Chamber, Old Parliament House
Lake, Professor Marilyn Public lecture: Mexico is the land of mystery and imagination—Alfred Deakin as colonial cosmopolitan

Promotional description: ‘Follow the extensive and exotic travels of Alfred Deakin in the 1880s, with Professor Marilyn Lake. Discover how Deakin’s travels paradoxically inspired his cosmopolitanism while confirming his Anglo-Saxonism and growing support for the ‘White Australia’ policy.’
11 September 2008

House of Representatives Chamber, Old Parliament House
Shortis, John (with Moya Simpson) Performance: Prime Time—the Fellowship Show

Promotional description: ‘Barton, Deakin, Watson, Reid, Fisher, Cook, Bruce, Scullin— sounds like a list of Canberra suburbs— but the names of our earliest Prime Ministers will be brought to life in this premiere performance by musical duo Shortis and Simpson.’
19 October 2008

Kings Hall, Old Parliament House
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